Adaptive exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose Adaptive Exercise Apparatus, fabricated so those with physical impairments or physical limitations may safely complete complex, fully customizable therapeutic exercise movements with various types of accommodating resisting or assisting forces placed upon the exercise movements by using a unique shuttle and track mechanism and a telescoping elevation platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, there are many exercise machines. Through extensive patent searching it was evident that many are single-functioning and nearly all are built for the average person or are designed for the athlete. This leaves many physically impaired individuals without proper exercise and therapy equipment. Most available equipment filling this void is either too expensive or limited functionally. Additionally, some of the current equipment available functions in a way that does not match the anatomically correct nature of muscle movement, especially complex movements that involve the upper body, lower body, and allow for the independent large muscle groups of right and left upper and lower quadrants of the body to move separately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Adaptive Exercise Apparatus is a multi-purpose exercise machine fabricated to accommodate for individuals with physical impairments or physical limitations. The broad range of customizable exercise movements make it uniquely versatile. The apparatus can serve to exercise isolated muscle groups as well as therapeutically exercise the entire body. Individuals using this apparatus can customize: the various starting or ending points of an exercise, the distance and rotation of an exercise movement, the amount of resistance or assistance put on an exercise throughout the duration of the exercise movement. The apparatus allows users with body movement restrictions to perform complex, entire-body exercises with customizations to the exercise movements including: rotations, various angles of movement, and distance of movements with multiple resistance or assistance methods.

The Adaptive Exercise Apparatus' main components are comprised of a rectangular frame with two Support Tracks on each side of a Stabilizing Center Beam. These three components are centered between a Top Strut and a Bottom Strut. Motion Placement Shuttles are located in pairs on each of the Support Tracks. These Motion Placement Shuttles may travel along the Support Tracks and the Motion Placement Shuttles have twelve Threaded Sockets for connecting various accessories. Accessories include but not limited to: Foot Pedals, Handles, Peg Handles, Seat Bench, and Sling Straps. These accessories in conjunction with the Motion Placement Shuttles are points of connection between the user and the apparatus. The connection points or the four Motion Placement Shuttles may move independently of each other or may move as right-side and left-side pairs or as a four-shuttle set to complete various exercises and compound movements. Bearings between the Motion Placement Shuttles and the Support Tracks allow the shuttles to freely move along the Support Tracks. Bearings also allow the Support Tracks to freely rotate and slide along the Top and Bottom Struts which further extend the breadth and scope of potential exercise movements. Motion Placement Limiters are responsible for stabilizing or restricting exercise movement by limiting the movement of the Motion Placement Shuttles or Support Tracks. The multitude of attachments and the mobility of the Motion Placement Shuttles and Support Tracks combined with a telescoping Elevation Platform along with the various systems for resistance or assistance to exercise movements make this machine an effective device for therapeutic physical exercise.

The Exercise Assembly may be connected to a telescoping Elevation Platform. The Elevation Platform is primarily used to adjust the angle of a user's exercise and for adapting the apparatus to allow users to perform a broad number compound movements at various angles. An adjustable Chain Weight system and Resistance Cord system supplies exercise movements with added ease or opposition and may allow for an added level of safety for those with physical limitations.

One objective of the present invention is to develop an exercise apparatus which can accommodate those with physical limitations. Adding resistance during one portion of the exercise movement while opposite assisting forces are added during a different portion of the exercise movement allows some users with physical impairments to complete complex exercises safely. This is accomplished through a series of Chain Weights, Limiter Pulleys, and Resistance Cords. The individual links of the Chain Weights may be connected at various locations on the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus and the individual links may be tethered or separated using Carabineers. Resistance Cords of varying strengths and distances may also be utilized.

Other features and advantages of the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus will become apparent within the latter detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the functional advantages previously stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the Exercise Assembly as it lays parallel to the ground by using Floor Mounting Stilts (10) and includes the following parts: Left Support Track (1), Right Support Track (2), Stabilizing Center Beam (3), Top Strut (4), Bottom Strut (5), Left Lower Motion Placement Shuttle (6), Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (7), Right Lower Motion Placement Shuttle (8), Right Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (9), Floor Mounting Stilts (10), and Foot Pedals (11).

FIG. 2 displays the Elevation Platform (12).

FIG. 3 depicts how the Exercise Assembly attaches to the top portion of the Elevation Platform (not fully shown) by way of a Securing Rod (13).

FIG. 4 is an angled view of the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus while connected to the Elevation Platform (partially viewable).

FIG. 5 is an angled view displaying the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus while connected to the Elevation Platform (12) at the highest elevation with the Motion Placement Shuttles connected in right-side and left-side pairs using 4″ Connecting Rods (18) and Connecting Rod Extenders (19). This view also shows the possible direction of movement of the shuttles along the Support Tracks and the rotation and direction of movement of the Support Tracks along the Top and Bottom Struts.

FIG. 6 displays two views. One view is an exploded view of a Motion Placement Limiter (14) assembled to an optional Limiter Pulley (15) by the assembly of a Limiter Pulley Bolt (33), two Limiter Locking Washers (32), and Limiter Wingnut (30). The Motion Placement Limiter affixes to the apparatus by way of the Limiter Hand Crank (29). The second view is of a Motion Placement Limiter and Limiter Pulley (15).

FIG. 7 depicts how the Seat Bench (16) connects all four of the Motion Placement Shuttles together with ¾″ threaded Connecting Rods (20) and how Threaded Eye Bolts (17) are connected to Motion Placement Shuttles to provide for the accommodation and customization of the resistance systems. An optional Seat Bench Harness (27) is also displayed.

FIG. 8 displays the various accessories available to attach to the Motion Placement Shuttles including the following: Threaded Eye Bolt (17), Steel Cable (21), Handle (22), Peg Handle (24), Sling Strap (26), Carabineer (31), and Foot Pedal (11). These accessories attach by way of any of the twelve Threaded Sockets (23) located on each of the Motion Placement Shuttles.

FIG. 9 displays a limited view of a customized configuration of the Resistance Cords (25) attached to a limited view of the Exercise Assembly.

FIG. 10 displays the Chain Weight (28) resistance system and Handles (22) as well as the overall Adaptive Exercise Apparatus in use while connected to the Elevation Platform (12).

FIG. 11 displays the overall Adaptive Exercise Apparatus connected to the Elevation Platform in use by an individual with physical limitations including the use of multiple accessories used simultaneously by this individual.

FIG. 12 offers more clarity to the use case depiction in FIG. 11 by showing a limited view of the Exercise Assembly including the Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle while unconnected to the Left Lower Motion Placement Shuttle. The Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle is connected to a Chain Weight resistance system (not fully shown) by way of a Steel Cable (21) and Limiter Pulley (15). The Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle is connected to a Resistance Cord (25) system. The Left Lower Motion Placement Shuttle is connected to a Resistance Cord (25) system. The right-side Motion Placement Shuttles are unused for this specific use case. Also depicted in this view are Motion Placement Limiters (14), Threaded Eye Bolts (17), Carabineer (31), Peg Handle (24), Sling Strap (26), Foot Pedal (11), and a Limiter Hand Crank (29).

FIG. 13 illustrates the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus in another possible use case. This use case is displayed as a means to gain a better understanding of the scope and breadth of the potential customization or modification of the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawings give a representation of the present invention in at least one of its preferred best embodiments, which are further discussed in detail within the following description. Those posing ordinary skills may be able to make alterations and modifications to said invention whilst sustaining its spirit and scope. Thus, it is important to understand that the illustrated embodiments serve primarily as examples and should not be considered as limiting the invention as defined in the following. This is especially relevant considering the therapeutic function of this device, and the breadth of customization to individual case specification.

The Adaptive Exercise Apparatus is constructed for use on any flat surface with ample space. The apparatus consists of the following primary parts: an Exercise Assembly with Motion Placement Shuttles and accessories, a Telescoping Elevation Platform, and Resistance\Assistance peripheries.

The Exercise Assembly (FIG. 1) primarily consists of the following components: a Left Support Track (1), a Right Support Track (2), a Stabilization Center Beam (3), a Top Strut (4), a Bottom Strut (5), a Left Lower Motion Placement Shuttle (6), an Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (7), a Right Lower Motion Placement Shuttle (8), and an Right Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (9). Together, these components form a rectangular structure primarily fabricated from stainless steel and other heavy duty composite materials.

The Right Support Track (2) and Left Support Track (1) are both affixed perpendicularly to the Top Strut (4) and Bottom Strut (5). Between the two Support Tracks is a Stabilizing Center Beam (3) which is affixed at the mid-point of the Top Strut (4) and the mid-point of the Bottom Strut (5), as shown in FIG. 1. Four Motion Placement Shuttles are secured around and travel smoothly along (FIG. 5) the two Support Tracks. The manipulation of these shuttles with various angles, resistance or assistance, rotations, and customizable accessory configurations allow for various therapeutic exercises to be completed by users with some levels of physical limitation or physical impairment.

The Elevation Platform (12) is a telescoping structure displayed in FIG. 2 which may be connected (FIG. 3) to the Exercise Assembly using a Securing Rod (13) which may raise the angle of the Exercise Assembly from a horizontal position to various angles for which a user may perform exercise movements. The Exercise Assembly can be operated in a horizontal position (FIG. 1) through the use of Floor Mounting Stilts (10). An example of the Exercise Assembly at an exercise angle greater than the horizontal position is depicted in FIG. 4 but not at the maximum angle of 85 degrees vertical (FIG. 5), whereas 90 degrees would be considered fully vertical.

The main components of interaction or parts that a user would come into contact with on apparatus are the Motion Placement Shuttles as previously depicted in FIG. 1. Motion Placement Shuttles glide smoothly along the Support Tracks by way of bearings between all four sides of the Motion Placement Shuttles and the Support Tracks. The shuttles travel in a linear direction, as displayed in FIG. 5. A Right Support Track (2) and a Left Support Track (1) are both affixed perpendicularly to the Top Strut (4) and Bottom Strut (5) by way of heavy duty bearings in a manner which allows the Support Tracks to rotate while simultaneously traveling along the Struts (FIG. 5). This added mobility can be accommodating to those with specific physical limitations. This mobility can also be restricted through the use of Motion Placement Limiters (14) as seen in FIG. 6, which can attach to any portion of the Support Tracks or any portion of the Top Strut (4) or Bottom Strut (5). Thus, the user can choose to either take advantage of the added range of motion given through the sliding or rotating nature of the Support Tracks or specifically limit this motion to accommodate for an individual's need. Optional Limiter Pulleys (15) may be attached to Motion Placement Limiters (FIG. 6, 14) through the use of a Limiter Bolt (33), two Limiter Locking Washers (32), and a Limiter Wingnut (30). The Motion Placement Limiter (14) is fastened to a Support Track, Top Strut (4), or Bottom Strut (5) by tightening the Limiter Hand Crank (29). Limiter Pulleys (15) with other accessories like Steel Cables (21) and Handles (22) can be added to perform various exercises as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. It is important to note that Motion Placement Limiters (14) were designed to allow Limiter Pulleys (15) to be used with or without the Motion Placement Limiter (14) restricting movement. In other words, the Limiter Pulleys (15) can be affixed to the Adaptive Exercise Apparatus without any movement being restricted. Limiter Pulleys (15) in conjunction with various accessories and apparatus parts can add resistance or add assistance to various exercise movements.

Each of the Motion Placement Shuttles can move independently of one another or the shuttles on the left or right side can be connected in such a way so that the two shuttles on each side can move together as a shuttle pair (FIG. 5). Each of the Motion Placement Shuttles contain twelve Threaded Sockets (23) (FIG. 8) which allow for various combinations of accessories to be connected to the independent Motion Placement Shuttles. These Threaded Sockets (23) are also responsible for connecting Motion Placement Shuttles into left or right pairs by way of 4″ Connection Rods (18) and Connecting Rod Extenders (19). The distance between each shuttle within a shuttle pair may vary and this variance offers users with different heights or users with right-side or left-side impairments the opportunity to complete some entire body exercises with a naturally anatomical accommodation. The four Motion Placement Shuttles can also operate as one unit when connected with ¾″ Connection Rods (20) as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 also depicts a Seat Bench (16) with an optional Seat Bench Harness (27). Other available accessories are displayed in FIG. 8 to include but not limited to: Foot Pedal (11), Handle (22), Peg Handle (24), Sling Strap (26), Threaded Eye Bolt (17). The adaptive structure and increased mobility seen in this apparatus leads to versatility of exercise movements and accommodation for individuals with a wide range of physical limitations.

The angle of the exercise movement is predicated by the connection of the Exercise Assembly to the Elevation Platform. For some body-weight exercises, the higher the angle of the exercise, the more difficult the exercise is to perform. Additional resistance or assistance to the movement of an exercise can be gained with the use of Resistance Cords (25) or Chain Weights (28) which are discussed in later paragraphs of this Detailed Description of the Invention.

FIG. 9 depicts the Resistance Cords (25) which are made of rubber and are tubular in shape and are comprised in varying lengths and thicknesses to offer a broad range of assistance or resistance to exercise movements. As a Resistance Cord (25) is stretched, the opposing resistance or supporting assistance to the exercise movement is strengthened. Exercise movements can be made more smooth, more difficult, or easier depending on the number of, pliability, and thickness of the Resistance Cords (25) and the location of the Resistance Cord's (25) attachment to the Stabilizing Center Beam (3) in comparison to the location of the Motion Placement Shuttles.

FIG. 10 depicts the Chain Weights (28) which are made of heavy stainless steel with individual attachable links to easily shorten or lengthen the overall chain's weight and dimensions. The Chain Weights (28) are used in conjunction with Steel Cables (21) and Limiter Pulleys (15) to bring another option for assistance or resistance to exercise movements. As a Chain Weight (28) is lifted during an exercise movement, opposing resistance or supporting assistance is gained. Chain Weights (28) allow for an exercise movement to gain more resistance as each link in the chain is individually hoisted from the ground. Additionally, links can be connected to make an exercise movement more or less resistive as two or more links of the heavy chain are hoisted from the ground.

As a means of explaining and clarifying the unique functional use of the apparatus, together FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 display a use case for one of the many potential ways the apparatus may be used by physically impaired individuals. This use case (FIG. 11) depicts a male individual with specific physical limitations using the Exercise Assembly while it is connected to the Elevation Platform (12). To better depict the Exercise Assembly in this use case, FIG. 12 was drawn without the Elevation Platform (12) or the Chain Weights (28). The Chain Weights in this use case would be hoisted from Limiter Pulleys (15) at the Top Strut (4) while the Chain Weights (28) are located at the ground below the Elevation Platform (12) (Not shown). In this use case, the right-side Motion Placement Shuttle pairs are unused. The Left-side Motion Placement Shuttles are not connected together. The motion of the Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (7) is restricted through the use of a Chain Weight (28) resistance system (not fully displayed). The movement of the Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle is also restricted by a Resistance Cord (25) system as displayed in FIG. 12. The movement of the Left Lower Motion Placement Shuttle (6) is only restricted by a connection to a separate, independent Resistance Cord (25) system. FIG. 12 also displays how multiple accessories are simultaneously utilized by the Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (7). This is necessary in this use case as this user's left limb employs a prosthetic appendage. The Peg Handle (24) is used to push the shuttle upwards during the exercise and the Sling Strap (26) is utilized when pulling downwards during the exercise movement so as to not pull the prosthetic away from the user's partial limb. As the user performs this example exercise, the shuttle travels downward pulling the Steel Cable (21) looped around the Limiter Pulley (15) which hoists the Chain Weight (28). This exercise movement is made safer when returning the shuttle back to the original starting position by the use of a smaller, opposing force from the Resistance Cords (25). The user will be less likely to hyper extend or injure himself at the top end of his exercise movement or reach because the opposing force from the Resistance Cords (25) get stronger as the pliable cords stretch and the Chain Weights (28) get easier as each link in the chain touches the floor which is counter to the cord resistance. In this use case, the therapeutic exercise movement is supinated or turned at the bottom-most movement of the exercise. This means that the user's knuckles face him at the top of the exercise or reaching movement of the exercise and as the user pulls against the chain resistance using the Sling Strap (26), he turns his prosthetic hand so that his knuckles are turned ninety degrees away from his body at the bottom-most portion of the exercise movement. This completes the user's upper body portion of the exercise. A lower body portion of the exercise is simultaneously performed and to accomplish the lower body movement for this use case, the user presses down against the Foot Pedal (11) as the Resistance Cords (25) provide an opposing force against his body movement. The Resistance Cords (25) automatically help the user bring the Foot Pedal (11) back to the original starting position. In this example, the user needs to limit the distance that the Lower Left Motion Placement Shuttle (6) travels by creating a specific starting position for the Foot Pedal (11). A Motion Placement Limiter (14) is used to accomplish this.

As a means of exemplifying more functional uses of the apparatus, FIG. 13 displays another potential exercise use case; whereby, the user has affixed a Seat Bench (16) to the apparatus and is using Motion Placement Limiters (14) with attached Limiter Pulleys (15) to keep the Seat Bench (16) from moving from left to right during the exercise. In this use case, two Limiter Pulleys (15) with other accessories (not shown) are a direct part of the exercise movement. The user pulls on either or both of the Handles (22) to hoist the Seat Bench (16) and the user upward along both Support Tracks. Each Handle (22) is connected to a Carabineer (31) which is connected to Steel Cable (21) which is looped through a Limiter Pulley (15). The Steel Cable (21) then is connected to another Carabineer (31) which is affixed to a Threaded Eye Bolt (17) which is connected to either the Left Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (7) or the Right Upper Motion Placement Shuttle (9) depending on whether the Steel Cable (21) originated from the Right or Left side. The movement of this exercise could be made easier or made more difficult through the use of Resistance Cords (25) and\or by raising or lowering the height of the Elevation Platform. 

1. An apparatus for providing customizable exercise movements consisting of two rotating Support Tracks for four Motion Placement Shuttles to move along, a Center Stabilizing Beam for connecting forces which oppose the exercise movements, Top and Bottom Struts for the Support Tracks to move laterally along, various attachments to the Motion Placement Shuttles to assist with the four points of connection between the user and the apparatus, Motion Placement Limiters to restrict exercise movements, an Elevation Platform to customize the angle of exercise movements, and a pliable Resistance Cord system and a heavy Chain Weight system used to apply forces against the exercise movements.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, where each of the Motion Placement Shuttles can move independent of each other along the Support Tracks or two Motion Placement Shuttles can be connected to move in tandem along the Support Tracks or four of the Motion Placement Shuttles can be connected to move as one unit along both Support Tracks.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the two Support Tracks can rotate and move laterally along the Top Strut and Bottom Strut.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, where affixing the Motion Placement Limiters to either the Top or Bottom Strut or to Support Tracks can restrict the movement of the Motion Placement Shuttles or the Support Tracks.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, where each of the four Motion Placement Shuttles have twelve Threaded Sockets which may be utilized to simultaneously connect to various optional parts of the apparatus including: Foot Pedals, Handles, Peg Handles, Sling Straps, Connecting Rods, Threaded Eye Bolts, and a Seat Bench with Harness.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, where Motion Placement Limiters may be used to attach a Pulley to the apparatus and the Motion Placement Limiter may or may not be restricting the movement of the Support Tracks or Motion Placement Shuttles while supporting the affixed Pulley.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, contains a Center Stabilizing Beam with holes along its surface to allow for Threaded Eye Bolts and Resistance Cords to be placed along the beam.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, where each increment of the exercise movement may have a customized amount of force put upon it by the various resistance systems of the apparatus, meaning one portion of a fluid exercise movement may have a weaker or stronger opposing force in comparison to a different portion of the same exercise movement.
 9. The resistance systems of item 8 of claim 1, where multiple opposing forces may be applied to the movement of the same Motion Placement Shuttle by way of Resistance Cords and Chain Weights and by changing the angle of the exercise movement through elevating the Support Tracks with the Elevation Platform.
 10. The Chain Weights of item 9 of claim 1, where the individual links of the Chain Weights may be disconnected or disengaged to reduce the total number of chain links and thereby reducing the total resistance force. 